Conceived by architects Darling and Pearson and completed in 1907, the University of Toronto’s 1,700-capacity Convocation Hall is a campus landmark, serving as the primary venue for academic and social functions. The acoustic of the circular hall and is reflective surfaces, however, present challenges to sound reinforcement and particularly to speech intelligibility.

With its previous sound system, an aging column array no longer effective, a Renkus-Heinz Iconyx system was selected to tackle the challenges for its advanced beam-steering technology.

As John Busza, systems designer at Global USS – the project’s integrator – explains: ‘The architecture of the room creates multiple reflections and delayed arrival times, complicating the listening experience. We needed a speaker solution that not only provided high intelligibility but also used the existing cabling and infrastructure.

‘Renkus-Heinz has what’s probably the most refined beam-steering technology for line array systems. The Iconyx line has gone through a few generations and it’s incredibly reliable.’

In addition to their technical capabilities, Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers offered a solution to another challenge – aesthetics. As Convocation Hall is a heritage building, any new equipment had to blend seamlessly with its historical interior. ‘The speakers can be custom colour-matched, which we did for this project,’ Busza says. ‘Architects and interior designers often don’t want the speakers to be seen at all, and with Iconyx, that’s possible. They have the least visual impact of any loudspeaker on the market, and the ability to paint them to match any colour makes them virtually unnoticeable.’

For the Convocation Hall project, two Renkus-Heinz Iconyx IC32 arrays were installed, positioned about 12ft above the stage. Each array contains 32 custom 4-inch coaxial drivers, powered by 32 separate amplifier channels, all controlled through advanced DSP. This allows precise steering of sound to specific areas of the hall, ensuring that every seat – whether on the floor or in the balconies – receives clear and intelligible audio.

One of the standout features of the Iconyx IC32 is its ability to create multiple beams of sound, each targeting a specific vertical plane of seating. This was particularly useful in the Convocation Hall, which features a gently sloped main floor and two levels of balconies.

‘The IC32s allow us to target specific areas, such as the main floor or the two balcony levels, without overpowering the room,’ explains system commissioner Arthur Skudra, who worked alongside Global USS on the project. ‘This precise control is key in a reverberant environment like Convocation Hall, where too much sound energy can create more problems.’

While the primary use of the system is for spoken-word presentations, the system is also capable of providing high-quality audio for musical performances and multimedia presentations. ‘For those instances where musical programs are presented, the IC32 offers exceptional clarity and tonality for vocal and light acoustical augmentation such as piano, acoustic guitar, or woodwinds,’ adds Bill Coons from Contact Distribution. This flexibility made the Renkus-Heinz solution a versatile choice for Convocation Hall, which hosts a wide range of events.

Another important consideration in the selection of Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers was their feedback rejection capabilities. Convocation Hall frequently uses lavalier microphones, which are susceptible to feedback in large, reverberant spaces. The beam-steering technology in the Iconyx IC32 arrays helped mitigate this issue. ‘Iconyx’s summing algorithms used to achieve beam steering have this innate ability to cancel out certain frequencies, thus reducing cyclical signal regeneration that is the cause of feedback,’ Coons says. ‘This allows presenters to move around the room without worrying about audio disruptions, and it improves the overall sound quality during audience interaction sessions, where open microphones are used.’

The Iconyx IC32 arrays also carry Dante digital audio networking for audio transport. This ensures that the new Convocation Hall sound system will remain relevant and functional for years to come, even as audio technologies evolve even further.

Renkus-Heinz’s support network also played a role in the success of the project. ‘Manufacturer support is great and relatively close in California, and the Canadian representation through Renkus-Heinz’s distributor, Contact Distribution, was fantastic,’ Busza says. ‘The Contact team was always there to support us, from design to install planning and commissioning.’

The system’s ability to precisely control sound coverage has mitigated the effects of the hall’s architecture. By integrating into the historic building’s aesthetic and using existing infrastructure, the solution met all the project’s requirements. ‘We were able to provide the hall with a system that addressed all the challenges: intelligibility, infrastructure, aesthetics, and flexibility,’ concludes Busza. ‘The Renkus-Heinz solution has transformed the space, making it a joy to attend and present events.’

More: www.renkus-heinz.com